2026 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Legal Assistant/Paralegal](/majors/legal-studies-and-professions/legal-support-services/legal-assistant-paralegal/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for legal assistant/paralegal students.
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2026 Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the legal assistant/paralegal degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Legal Assistant/Paralegal Schools
Metropolitan Community College Area tops our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $45,583 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
Saint Louis Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College generally make around $31,842. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Metropolitan Community College Kansas City one of the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Located in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,630, compared with $9,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $12,281. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $46,660 early in their careers. Set against $12,281 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Hennepin Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,061. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $18,625 in student loans. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates of North Hennepin Community College earn a median of $48,780 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,625 median debt.
Kirkwood Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in legal assistant/paralegal, landing the #5 spot this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Typical student debt for legal assistant/paralegal graduates is $25,083. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $41,681. Set against $25,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Inver Hills Community College placed #6 among the best values for legal assistant/paralegal. Inver Hills Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Inver Grove Heights. Students from in state pay about $6,146 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,521 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $49,694. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Des Moines Area Community College earned the #7 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $49,137. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Missouri Western State University came in at #8 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,545, with out-of-state students paying around $18,455. Students borrow a median of $24,362 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Missouri Western State University generally make around $41,107. That is a strong return on a $24,362 median debt.
Johnson County Community College came in at #9 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,367 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $44,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Superior College came in at #10 for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Set in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $17,156 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Lake Superior College generally make around $42,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rasmussen College Minnesota ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Set in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,199 in tuition and fees. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $28,336 in student loans. Early-career legal assistant/paralegal graduates make about $37,457. Set against $28,336 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hamline University earned the #12 position for value in legal assistant/paralegal this year. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,004. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the legal assistant/paralegal program here. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $40,297. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Webster University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value legal assistant/paralegal schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Legal Assistant/paralegal graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans. Soon after graduation, legal assistant/paralegal degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $57,152. That is a strong return on a $25,939 median debt. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
